Investigating the relationship between chondromalacia and patellar position in Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans of patients

Background: Patellar chondromalacia (CMP) is a common disorder and also a natural consequence of aging. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has emerged as a potent non-invasive method for assessing patellar cartilage damage. This study investigated the relationship between chondromalacia and the position of the patella in in MRI scans of patients referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital. Method: In this cross-sectional study, patients who underwent knee MRI for any reason and were eligible for a diagnosis of chondromalacia based on diagnostic criteria were included. The information obtained from the MRI, including the position of the patella (alta and baja) and knee deformity, was recorded in a data collection form by an experienced radiologist. Results: According to the results, 116 (70.3%) of the patients were female and 49 (29.7%) were male. There was no significant association between patellar position and gender (p = 0.27), history of surgery and gender (p = 0.64), or history of trauma and gender (p > 0.001). Among the independent variables (age, gender, weight, and history of surgery), only history of trauma had a significant linear relationship with the types of patella positions. Conclusion: Findings of this study revealed that patellar position is identified as a predisposing factor for chondromalacia. It is recommended that future prospective studies, with larger sample sizes and including control groups, investigate the relationship between chondromalacia and patella position on MRI in patients.

Investigating the relationship between chondromalacia and patellar position in Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans of patients Keywords:

Chondromalacia , patellar position , MRI